Scaffold apparatus.



W. C. MANGELL SGAPFOLD APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 10, 1913.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

lib/ w, a M W QK- QJJH I CHM/mug o onirnn stares PATENT OFFICE.

' WALLIE G. MANGEL, OF MADISON, MINNESOTA.

SGAFFGLD APPARATUS.

r To all 107mm 2'! may concern Be it known that 1, Emma C. lvfauonn, acitizen of the United States, residing at Madison, in the county of Lacqui Parle and. State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Scaffold Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to apparatus for use in connection with an(n'dinary ladder. to provide means in the nature of a scaffold, to beplaced in a suitable position with re lation to a building or the like,whereby the operator may raise and lower himself and be convenientlysupported in a desired position for painting the building or the like,or otherwise repairing the same.

An important object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the abovementioned character, which is adapted for use in connection withordinary ladders of any size without in any way altering theconstruction of the same.

A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the abovementioned character, embodying a vertically adjustable platform orsupport, which receives therein the ladder, such platform being providedwith a wedge-shaped clamping or locking mechanism, adapted to be movedinto engagement with a selected round of the ladder for preventing thedownward movement of the platform, such wedgeshaped clamping mechanismbeing also adapted for movement into engagement with the upstanding sidebars of the ladder, for preventing the platform or support from movinghorizontally and transversely with relation to the ladder, when theplatform is adjacent the upper contracted end of the ladder or when thesame is of greater transverse dimension than the ladder.

A further object of this invention is to provide means of the abovementioned character, which are simple in construction, strong, durable,and comparatively cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this in vention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same, Figure 1 is a side view of the complete apparatus, showing thesame in use, Fig. 2 is a central ver- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 10, 1913.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

Serial No. 766,809.

detachable connection with the lower end of the ladder, for preventingthe upper end thereof from swinging away from the buildmg.

in the drawings, wherein for the sake of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 6 designates a ladderas a whole, of any well known or preferred type. This ladder comprisesspaced side bars 7, connected by horizontal rounds or steps 8, as iscustomary. This ladder may taper toward its upper end, as is ordinarilythe case. The ladder (3 may be formed in any suitable number ofsections.

My invention does not relate to improvements in the ladder 6 7m) so. butrather in apparatus for use in connection therewith, there being noclaim to the ladder 6pm so, but the same may be claimed, however, incombination with my improved apparatus, cooperating therewith.

The numeral 9 designates a house. which, for the sake of illustration.it will, be said, is to be painted.

The numeral 10 designates a vertically adjustable platform or support,comprising upper horizontal spaced beams 11, which are rigidly connectedby horizontal transverse strips or boards 12, upon which the operatorare rigidly connected with the beams 11 by ,7

The ladder (3 rods or strips 15, as shown. fits within the verticallymovable platform or support 10, the side bars 7 thereof being disposedinwardly of the beams ll and the braces 13, as shown. These side bars 7engage the guide strip 12 and the guide round l t. The beams .11 areforked at their inner ends, as shown at 16. for forming openings forreceiving a holding rod 17, which is adjust ably held in place by cotterpins 18 or the like. It is thus seen that the platform or support 10 isdetachably'held upon the ladder 6, and is free to be raised and lowered.

The guide strip 12 has an eye bolt 19, 5 connected therewith, which isconnected with a flexible element 20, )referably a section of rope,which extends upwardly to engage a pulley 21, which is detachablymounted upon the uppermost round or step 8. of the ladder. It is obviousthat by proper manipulation of the rope 20, the platform or support willbe raised.

Means are provided to hold the platform or support 10 in adjustment. atdesired vertical positions, comprising a wedgeshaped latch apparatus.This wedge-shaped latch apparatus includes converging horizontal latchbars or bolts 22, disposed between the horizontal beams 11 and below thestrips or boards 12. These converging latch bars or bolts 22 arelongitudinally movable to be 4 brought into engagement with a selectedround or step 8, as more clearly shown in Fig. 2. The reciprocatorylatch bars or bolts are provided at their outer ends with elongatedslots 23, extending longitudinally thereof and parallel with each other.The slots 23 receive bolts 24., rigidly connected with one of the boards12.

The numeral designates a transverse operating bar or rod, provided nearits ends with transverse bolts 27, connecting the same with the latchbars or bolts This operating bar is provided with an upstanding knob 25,as shown. It is obvious that when the operating bar 25 is moved towardthe ladder 6, for bringing the converging latch bars 22 into engagementwith and above the selected round or step 8, said latch vars 22 willalso be brought into clamping engagementwith the side bars 7 of theladder. As hereinabove stated, the ladder 6 tapers toward its upper end,whereby there may be spaces between the beams 11 and the side bars 7 ofthe ladder, depending upon the elevated position of the platform. If thelatch bars did not converge whereby they may have clamping engagementwith the side bars 7, it is obvious that the platform or support 10would be capable of partaking of restricted horizontal lateral movementswith relation to the ladder.

The numeral 28 designates spacing elements or braces preferably formedof iron or the like, which have their outer ends forked, as shown at 29,for receiving the upper end of each of the side bars 7, (there being twoof the spacing elements 28). The forked end 29 is provided with aclamping bolt 30. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the spacing elements orbraces 28 engage the sides of the house 9, thus preventing the upper endof the ladder from swinging toward the same.

6 Disposed at the lower end of the ladder 6 is a brace apparatus 31, forpreventing the upper end of the ladder from swinging away from the house9. This brace apparatus comprises an upstanding standard 32 providedwith openings or notches 33, for receiving the lower rounds 8 of theladder. Higidly connected with the lower end of the standard 32 is atransverse foot 31, adapted to be disposed to one side of and inwardlyof the side bars 7, as shown. Attention is called to the fact that thestandard 32 is disposed upon one end of the ladder, and the foot 34:upon the opposite side thereof. Connected with this transverse foot 34:and with the lower end of the standard 32 is a horizontal strip or bar35, connected with a transverse outer foot 36, as shown. A diagonalbrace 37 serves to rigidly connect the horizontal strip 35 and theupstanding standard 32, as shown. It is obvious that the brace apparatus31 is detachably connected with the ladder 6, and serves to prevent theupper end of the ladder from swinging away from the building.

In the use of the apparatus, the spacing elements 28 are connected withthe upper ends of the side bars 7 of the ladder, and the ladder is movedto its vertical position as shown in Fig. 1. The brace apparatus 31 isnow placed adjacent the lower end of the ladder G and outwardly of thesame. The ladder 6 is now slightly raised so that the ends of the sidebars 7 may be placed outwardly of transverse foot 34, the lower rounds 8of the ladder fitting within the openings 33. It is thus seen that theupper braces 28 prevent the upper end of the ladder from swinging towardthe building while the brace apparatus 31 prevents such upper end fromswinging away from the building. The vertically movable platform orsupport 10 and associated elements may be suitably mounted upon theladder 6, before or after the same has been moved to its verticalposition. This platform or support is raised and lowered by propermanipulation of the rope 20. hen the platform 10 is raised to thedesired position, the operating bar 25 is moved toward the ladder 6,whereby the latch bars or bolts 22 are moved longitudinally in the samedirection to engage above a selected round 8 and with the side bars 7 ofthe ladder, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and thatcertain changes in the shape, I

size and arrangement of parts may be re; sorted to without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention,1claim:- 1. The combination with a.ladder, of a support slidably mounted thereon to move longitudinallythereof, means to move the support in one direction, a pair of spacedreciprocatory bars disposed below the support with their correspondingends arranged between and converging toward the side bars of the ladderto have clamping engagement therewith while supported by a round of theladder, means rigidly connecting the converging reciprocatory bars, andmeans to connect the same with the support.

2. The combination with a ladder, of a substantially horizontal supportslidably n'iounted thereon to more longitudinally thereof, means to morethe support in one direction, a tapered reciproeatory latch mechanism toengage above one of the rounds of the ladder and having clampingengagement with the side bars thereof, and. means connecting the recinrocatory latch mechanism with the support.

The combination with a ladder, of a support slidably mounted thereon tobe 'moved longitudinally thereof, means to more the support in onedirection, spaced reciprocatory bars disposed to one side of the supportwith corresponding ends thereof arranged between and converging towardthe side bars of the ladder to have clamping engagement therewith whilesupported by a round of the ladder, means connecting the spacedconverging reciprocatory bars for holding them against lateral movementtoward each other, means connecting the reeiprocatory bars with thesupport, and common means to more the reciprocatory bars.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VALLIE C. MANUEL.

\Vitnesses \V. H. Pearson, O. lV. Soi-iULz.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G.

